Device including an elastic covering for transporting record substrates in office machines, in particular for records in record processing apparatus

Abstract

A flat substrate (3) for surface structure is insertable, in each case, in positions where the processing means (5) are moved into positions outside of the path of the substrate, in particular for print and/or read means (6, 7) in a device for the transport of flat substrates (3) in office machines, in particular for records in record-processing apparatus (1). A pull-in shaft (8) or feed throat includes guide means which form, in transport direction (4), one or several successive, cross-running openings (19) for the processing means (5) movable cross to the transport direction (4). The openings (19) are closable, at least in part, by way of elastic coverings (24, 25) for achieving an interference-free pull-in of damaged and/or irregular substrates (3) or, respectively, records. The coverings (24, 25) form in transport direction (4), in each case, insert funnels (26) for the substrate (3) and, in case of cross motions of the processing means (5), the respective elastic covering (24, 25) is movable by the moved processing means (5) from the functioning position, assumed in the initial state during the moving by of the processing means (5), temporarily into another functioning position.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: 
     
       1. A device for transporting flat substrates in office machines comprising a flat substrate track forming a path for substrate movement;   a lower bottom part of the office machine having openings and furnishing a lower part of a feed throat, wherein a flat substrate can be inserted into the feed throat to run along the flat substrate track;   lower transport means disposed in the openings of the lower bottom part and forming a lower part of the feed throat;   an upper part of the office machine furnishing an upper part of the flat substrate track and an upper part of the feed throat; upper guide means forming an upper part of the feed throat and defining a first opening;   a first elastic covering disposed in a first rest position over the first opening, for covering the first opening at least in part, wherein the elastic covering forms, in its first rest position in transport direction, an insert funnel for the flat substrate;   a first processing means positioned outside of the flat substrate track in contact with the first elastic covering and movable into the area of the flat substrate track thereby temporarily moving the elastic covering into a second operational position, wherein the first opening is elongated in a direction transverse to the transport direction for allowing the processing means to move crosswise to the transport direction for engagement with the flat substrate.   
     
     
       2. The device for transporting flat substrate according to claim 1 wherein the first processing means is a printing means.   
     
     
       3. The device for transporting flat substrates according to claim 1 wherein the first processing means is a reading means.   
     
     
       4. The device for transporting flat substrates according to claim 1 wherein the flat substrate is a recorded to be subjected to recording-processing.   
     
     
       5. The device for transporting flat substrates according to claim 1 wherein the processing means is a printing means, wherein a guide sheet metal piece furnishes the upper guide means, wherein the elastic covering is attached to the guide sheet metal piece, and runs at an angle outside of the guide sheet metal piece, said covering being coordinated with the printing means and covering covers an ink ribbon outside of a print field. 
     
     
       6. The device for transporting flat substrates according to claim 1 wherein the processing means is a reading means, and further comprising a second elastic covering disposed angled relative to a position of the first elastic covering and disposed opposite to the first covering as seen from a middle line of the opening, wherein the first covering and the second covering are provided above the opening, and are disposed relative to each other forming a narrow slot when the reading means is disposed in an end position. 
     
     
       7. The device for transporting flat substrates according to claim 1 wherein the covering is furnished with an additional angle section directed downwardly into the feed throat. 
     
     
       8. The device for transporting flat substrates according to claim 1 further comprising a second opening neighboring the first opening; a second processing means disposed neighboring the first processing means;   a second elastic covering covering the second opening, wherein the first elastic covering associated with the first processing means the second covering associated with the second processing means being integrated into a single covering.   
     
     
       9. A device for the transport of flat substrates, in a transport direction in office machines, in particular for records in recording-processing apparatus, comprising a flat substrate track and processing means, such as printing and/or reading means, positioned outside of the flat substrate track, and a feed throat including transport means which form, in the transport direction, at least two successively disposed, cross-running openings for the processing means, means mounting the processing means for movement crosswise to the transport direction, first and second elastic coverings disposed over each of said openings for covering said openings at least in part, said elastics coverings forming in the transport direction (4), at each of the openings insert funnels (26) for the flat substrates, and means mounting said processing means for movement toward the flat substrate track, said openings being elongated in a direction transverse to the transport direction for allowing the processing means to move transverse to the transport direction for engagement with the flat substrate at selected locations across its width, said first and second elastic coverings being spaced apart such that they are contacted and moved further apart by said processing means as said processing means moves crosswise to the transport direction.   
     
     
       10. The device according to claim 9, further comprising a guide sheet metal piece, wherein   said first elastic covering (24) is attached to the guide sheet metal piece (27) as a guide means and where said first elastic covering (24) runs at an angle (24a) outside of the guide sheet metal piece (27), where said first elastic covering (24) being coordinated with the printing means (6) and covering an ink ribbon (28) outside of a print field (29).   
     
     
       11. The device according to claim 9, wherein said first and second coverings (24, 25), angled and disposed opposite to each other, are provided above one of said openings (37) for the read means (7), said coverings (24, 25) are disposed opposite to each other, forming a narrow slot up to prior to touching each other while the read means (7) is disposed in an end position (30).   
     
     
       12. The device according to claim 9, wherein said first elastic covering (24) being furnished with an additional angle section (31), directed downwardly into the feed throat (8).   
     
     
       13. The device according to claim 9, wherein neighboring coverings for neighboring processing means (5) are integrated into a single covering.   
     
     
       14. A method for transporting flat substrates in office machines comprising positioning a first processing means outside of a flat substrate track;   inserting a flat substrate into a or feed throat forming an entrance port of the flat substrate track of an office machine including a lower bottom part of the office machine, lower transport means disposed in openings of the lower bottom part, an upper part of the office machine, upper guide means defining a processing opening;   providing an elastic covering for covering said processing opening at least in part while said elastic covering is in a first rest position to form an insert funnel for the flat substrate;   transporting the flat substrate along said flat substrate track;   moving the processing means, originally positioned outside of the flat substrate track, into the area of the flat substrate track, wherein the processing opening is elongated in a direction transverse to a transport direction for allowing the processing means to move crosswise to the transport direction of the flat substrate for engagement with the flat substrate;   and positioning the elastic covering temporarily into a second operational position responsive to movement of said first processing means crosswise to the transport direction.   
     
     
       15. A method for transporting flat substrates according to claim 14 further comprising advancing the flat substrate while the processing means is in an end position.   
     
     
       16. A method for transporting flat substrates according to claim 14 wherein the processing means is a printing means.   
     
     
       17. A method for transporting flat substrates according to claim 14 wherein the processing means is a reading means.   
     
     
       18. A method for transporting flat substrates according to claim 14 wherein the flat substrate is a record to be subjected to record-processing.   
     
     
       19. A method for transporting flat substrates according to claim 14 further comprising a guide sheet metal piece, the processing means is a printing means, and the guide sheet metal piece furnishes the upper guide means, wherein the elastic covering is attached to the guide sheet metal piece, and runs at an angle outside of the guide sheet metal piece, said elastic covering being coordinated with the printing means and covering an ink ribbon outside of a print field.   
     
     
       20. A method for transporting flat substrates according to claim 14 engaging a second covering disposed angled relative to a position of the first covering and disposed opposite to the first covering as seen from a middle line of the opening, wherein the first covering and the second covering are provided above the opening, and disposed relative to each other firming a narrow when second processing a means is disposed in an end position. 
     
     
       21. A method for transporting flat substrates according to claim 14 moving said second processing means, disposed initially outside of the flat substrate track, toward the area of the flat substrate track;   engaging said second elastic covering with the second processing means.